Martha+Jean+Moore

Sacramento County Deputy Sheriff Harold Pearl was arrested for abortion and felony manslaughter charges after the death of 19-year-old Martha Jean McMillen Moore.

Martha, who lived in the town of Elverta, died from internal hemorrhaging at Sacramento County Hospital on July 18, 1961. She had been three months pregnant at the time of the fatal abortion. Police asserted that Pearl had made three abortion attempts on Martha in his apartment.

Police did not believe that Pearl was the father of Martha's baby. Her parents implicated a man Martha had been dating while awaiting her divorce. Police believe that the baby's father had arranged the abortion.

Sources:
 * "Deputy Sheriff Held in Girl's Abortion Death," //San Bernardino County Sun//, Jul. 20, 1961